🎵 Song: Apna Bana Le – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes...

love isn't confessed through words.

Sometimes...

it's hidden behind a phone screen...

where only the owner knows the reason behind a smile."

The neighborhood had finally gone quiet.

After unpacking from the trip...

Both families settled back into their usual routines.

The lights in most rooms were switched off.

Only a few lamps still glowed softly through the windows.

Malhotra Mansion

Reyansh lay comfortably on his bed.

His room was dimly lit.

One hand rested behind his head.

The other held his phone.

He had been scrolling through the Shimla pictures for almost half an hour.

Every picture brought back another memory.

Kabir making funny faces.

Anaya throwing snowballs.

The bonfire.

The family photographs.

Then...

His thumb stopped.

It was the picture clicked at the viewpoint.

Just him...

And Aarohi.

She was looking toward the camera with her shy smile.

A few strands of her hair danced in the mountain breeze.

Her blue eyes looked brighter than the snowy sky behind her.

For a long moment...

He simply stared at the picture.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"My Ocean..."

He whispered.

"You looked so beautiful that day."

Without thinking much...

He tapped on the picture.

Selected 'Set as Wallpaper.'

The image perfectly fit his lock screen.

He looked at it for a few more seconds.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Perfect."

Just then...

Kabir barged into the room without knocking.

"Bha—"

He stopped.

His eyes immediately landed on Reyansh's phone.

The wallpaper.

Kabir's mouth slowly opened.

"Oho..."

Reyansh quickly locked his phone.

"What?"

Kabir folded his arms dramatically.

"I saw that."

"Saw what?"

"You changed your wallpaper."

"So?"

"And it's Aarohi Didi."

Reyansh looked completely calm.

"It's a nice picture."

Kabir tried not to laugh.

"Only her?"

"There were family pictures too."

Reyansh shrugged casually.

"I liked this one."

Kabir smirked.

"You are so gone."

"Get out."

Kabir laughed as he walked toward the door.

"I'll leave..."

"But my future bhabhi looks nice on your phone."

"Kabir."

"I'm going!"

He disappeared before Reyansh could throw a pillow at him.

The room became quiet again.

Reyansh unlocked his phone.

The wallpaper appeared once more.

He smiled.

"Good night..."

"...Ocean."

Sharma House

Meanwhile...

Aarohi had just finished arranging the souvenirs she had bought from Shimla.

The beautiful wooden bookmark from the bookstore.

A snow globe.

A small keychain.

Each item reminded her of the trip.

But one memory...

Stood out the most.

Reyansh hugging her after finding her.

Her cheeks turned pink instantly.

She quickly shook her head.

"What are you thinking, Aarohi..."

She smiled shyly.

She picked up her phone.

Her gallery was filled with photographs from the trip.

Family pictures.

Mountain views.

Pictures with Anaya.

Then...

She stopped at one particular photo.

It was Reyansh.

Standing beside the wooden bridge.

Hands inside his pockets.

His black sweater contrasting with the white snow behind him.

He wasn't even looking at the camera.

He had been smiling at something Kabir had said.

It looked...

Natural.

Genuine.

Different from his usual arrogant smirk.

Aarohi couldn't stop looking at it.

"He looks..."

She smiled softly.

"...really handsome."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Her heart began beating faster.

She looked around her room instinctively.

As if someone might have heard her.

Thankfully...

She was alone.

After staring at the picture for another minute...

She slowly opened the options.

Her thumb hovered over one button.

She hesitated.

"...Should I?"

A tiny smile appeared on her lips.

"...Why not?"

She tapped it.

Set as Wallpaper.

The lock screen lit up with Reyansh's smiling picture.

She covered her face with both hands.

"I actually did it..."

Just then...

The door opened.

Anaya entered carrying two mugs of warm milk.

"Didi—"

She stopped.

Aarohi hurriedly locked her phone.

Too late.

Anaya had already seen the wallpaper.

Her grin grew wider and wider.

"Ohhh..."

Aarohi looked away.

"W-What?"

"You changed your wallpaper."

"No..."

"I mean..."

"Yes..."

Anaya giggled.

"To Jiju's picture."

Aarohi almost choked.

"Anaya!"

"What?"

"Don't call him that!"

"Why?"

"Because..."

"We're not..."

She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Anaya sat beside her.

"You know..."

"I always knew he'd become my jiju."

Aarohi hid her burning face behind a pillow.

"You think too much."

"No."

"I think exactly the right amount."

The younger sister quietly smiled.

Her mission was progressing perfectly.

Across the Street

Almost at the same time...

Both balconies opened once again.

Neither of them knew...

That the other had done exactly the same thing.

Reyansh leaned against the railing.

Aarohi stepped outside a few seconds later.

They smiled upon seeing each other.

"Can't sleep?" Reyansh asked.

She shook her head.

"You?"

"Not really."

A comfortable silence followed.

The moon shone brightly above them.

Neither of them said what they had just done.

Neither of them mentioned the new wallpaper on their phones.

Those little secrets remained hidden.

Safely locked behind their screens.

And inside their hearts.

From their respective windows...

Kabir and Anaya secretly peeked outside.

Kabir whispered to himself,

"They're talking again."

Anaya smiled proudly.

"One day..."

"They won't need balconies anymore."

Above them...

The moon silently witnessed two teenagers...

Who had unknowingly chosen the same way...

To keep each other close.

Even when they weren't together.

End of Chapter 56 🌊📱❤️